​I’m going to go out on a limb here and say something most people don’t realise. Getting winter sniffles and coughs is normal. It’s normal (and useful) to have a fever when you’re sick. And it is healthy to come down with something every now and again.What’s not healthy or normal is not being able to throw the sickness off or lurching from one virus to the next with barely a chance to dry your nose. This is when we need to be concerned and start to seek further advice from the health professionals of your choice.

Colds and flu give us an opportunity to rest and nurture our bodies. They put the brake on us before anything more dire happens. It is the message we get to slow down! Listen to it. Stop. Take time off work (your colleagues will be grateful you keep the bugs to yourself). And rest, rest, rest! Nothing can ever beat good old-fashioned rest and good food. Here’s a few tips and ideas to keep your immune system at its best during the chilly season. You may not be able to completely prevent a cold but you can make sure you throw it off quickly and easily. ​

Food Vit C- a powerful anti oxidant that is absolutely necessary for the immune system to function at it’s best. Increase your intake of citrus fruit, berries, broccoli, cabbage and sweet potato to name a few- basically fresh fruit and veg!

Antioxidants- you hear nutritionists bang on all the time about eating a rainbow…This is why! Antioxidants destroy free radicals that would otherwise damage our cells and tissues. Get plenty of green veg in, plenty of red and all the colours in between!

Probiotics- Our gut is intrinsically linked to our immune system. The healthier our gut the stronger our immune system. For natural probiotics- fermented foods folks! Be sensible about the amount you eat but do eat some every day! Sauerkraut has both pre and probiotics so is an excellent choice. It's also high in vit so so you win all round!

Prebiotics- These are the food of the probiotics. They’re a special kind of fibre that feed the good bacteria in our gut keeping it healthy. Winter stews are chock full of prebiotics as onions and garlic are rich in prebiotics. Also, asparagus, cabbage and beetroot. Oats and apples are up there too. Get making that porridge and add some grated apple. Eat up!

Vitamin D- Absolutely vital for good, strong immune responses. We get this mainly through sunlight which is trickier in the winter months but not impossible for most places. See that winter sun streaming through the window? Get your shirt off and bask in it for 20min. Your torso is the best place to expose as it has a large surface area.

HomeopathicsHomeopathics are an excellent option to keep that immune system finely honed. Homeopaths are well versed in physical and emotional triggers that can cause illness.Homeopathy is a highly individualised modality and each person needs to be assessed according to individual need.A consult to attain a constitutional is the perfect place to start. Discuss your options with your homeopath as they are a wealth of knowledge!

If cold or flu symptoms set in there is literally hundreds of remedies that may help! Either try one out of your first aid kit or book an acute consult with your homeopath.

Some other ideasexcercise- yes, you've heard it before so here it is again! Fill those lungs with fresh air, move that circulation (warm up those cold hands and feet) and go for a walk. No need to get silly about it but if you do a little everyday, say a 20min walk or 30min of yoga it really adds up and you'll reap the benefits. If you're outside you're also increasing vit D. And addressing stress- see my next point!

reduce stress- I can already hear the collective groans! However stress weakens the immune system. It messes with everything from sleep to digestion. Life is unavoidable stressful but there is a lot we can do to make sure we are able to cope. Here's one most don't think about- homeopathy. So get yourself an appointment and cope better. Then there's the ones we know about but don't do- meditation and excercise (there it is again- time to get on your bike and join the run). Don't take my word for it. Try it for more than 1 session. More than one week. More than a month. Nothing here is a quick fix as they don't exist when we are talking immunity. So get started now!

​Disclaimer: Homeopathy is a traditional medicine.The TGA considers Homeopathy a low risk medicine. It may be used in conjunction with other medicines. For any ongoing chronic condition, it is important to be assessed or examined by your healthcare professional or specialist. Information given here is in no way intended to take the place of advice from your chosen healthcare professional or specialist. Any examples given from the authors life do not indicate that the remedy in question will work for everyone in every instance. They are used solely to illustrate the use the medicine in a practical situation. Nothing said on this website is intended as a diagnosis and should not be taken as such.Always seek medical advice in emergencies.​

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Sarah is a qualified and registered Homeopath, Nutritionist and Bowen therapist. She loves nothing more than watching the people who pass through her clinic smile with relief, take back their lives and get on with living.When she's home she parents 4 little cherubs (alongside her amazing partner in life and love) that grow up way too fast!​banner image courtesy of JK1991 FreeDigitalPhotos.net